Method of and apparatus for bookbinding



y 24, 1956 -YTERZUOLI ETAL 2,755,491

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BOOKBINDING Filed June 15 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 1 APPLIED PRESSUR EJ IN VEN TORS ANDREW J. TERZUOLIDOMINICK R. TERZUOLI BY t. ATTORNEYS July 24, 1956 A. J. TERZUOLI EI'ALMETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BOOKBINDING Filed June 15, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ANDREW J. TERZUOL/ DOMINICK R. TERZUOLI BYWMIWv SW ATTORNEYS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FUR BOOKBING Andrew J. Terzuoli and Dominick R.Terzuoli, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 15, 1953, Serial No. 361,751

6 Claims. (Cl. 11-1) This invention relates to a method of and apparatusfor bookbinding, and more particularly to a continuous method ofbookbinding performed by automatic machinery with the object of reducingthe cost of the binding operation and obtaining a greatly increasedoutput per operator as compared with known methods.

Another object is to provide suitable apparatus for carrying out theabove method.

A further object is to provide a jaw assembly for use in the apparatusjust referred to.

Further objects and advantages of the method and apparatus will beevident from the following specification in which is disclosed apreferred form of apparatus for practicing the method. It will be noted,however, that the disclosure made herein is merely illustrative and notlimitative of the invention and that changes can be made in theapparatus without departing from the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate known methods of book binding herein referredto;

Figure 3 is an end view partially broken away of a machine which may beused to practice the instant invention;

Figure 4 is a partial side view showing heating chamber in section ofthe machine shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the jaw assemblies 19 used inthe machine, Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a side view of the jaw assembly in open position, Figure 5,and

Figure 7 is a detail view of the adjustment cams used in the machineFigures 3 and 4.

Heretofore it has been customary in one of the operations connected withthe binding of a book to perform what is commonly known as casing in.This operation is usually performed by hand and consists of putting theleaves constituting the book proper within the cover of the book andpasting the first and last leaf to the inside surfaces of the cover.Some paste or glue may also be applied to the back edges of the book andthe inside of the cover contacting the same.

The next operation is commonly referred to as building in, and consistsof placing the covered books within a tray as shown in Figure 1, inwhich the books project as shown in Figure 2, so that the metal edges ofthe tray will form or lie within creases in the cover along the sides ofthe book. Such creases are commonly called the joint of the book.Pressure is now applied to a stack of books, usually for a period ofabout eight hours, and the glue or paste is allowed to dry for thisperiod.

It will be noted that this is a batch operation and is performedentirely by hand, the books being loaded into the trays and the traysassembled into a pile so that they can be placed in a bookbinders press.Sufficient time must be allowed for the paste to dry under normalconditions (room temperature).

The improved method herein disclosed comprises the States Patentfollowing steps and greatly increases the speed at which books may bebound.

First, the book cover is applied to the sheets comprising the body ofthe book in the usual manner, and the cover may or may not have theusual joint extending inwardly from the outside surfaces of the coverand adjacent the back of the book. It will be assumed, for the sake ofillustration, that the covers are applied to the books without beingjointed.

The second step of the method comprises individually clamping the pagesand covers of each book, and the clamping means may form the joint inthe covers. These clamps or carriers may be mounted upon a suitableconveyor, as hereinafter described, and any desired member of clamps canbe used; only two are herein shown.

The third step consists of applying heat to the exposed cover and leavesof each book while the same are clamped together, as above described.

It will be noted that the leaves of the book are more or less open,thereby permitting the heat to pass upward through the leaves and to theglue holding the cover to the book pages.

The fourth step consists of unclamping the completed book with cover inplace.

It will be noted that the above method may be continuous, and a suitableapparatus for carrying out the method will now be described.

Referring to Figure 3, a suitable framework, indicated by the numeral10, is provided having inwardly extending supports or guide rails 11,for carrying any suitable conveyor such as chains 12, 12a.

The chains 12, 12a, are carried on four sprockets, two of which areshown in Figure 3 at 13, 14; the other two are at the right hand end ofthe chain in Figure 4, and one of them is shown at 15.

The sprockets 13 and '14 are driven by a shaft 16 in any suitablemanner, as by gears 17 and driving shaft 18 connected to a suitablesource of power.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the chains 12, 12a, may bedriven at any suitable speed, and as best seen in Figure 4 the bottomchain may be made to travel from left to right.

The chains carry a plurality of carriers or jaw assemblies, shown inFigure 4 and in perspective in Figure 5, same being denoted as a wholeby the numeral 19 wherever so referred to.

Each carrier comprises a main frame 20 which has at each end theupstanding ears 21 and 22 having apertures 23, 24, therein to permit theears' to be bolted to chains 12, 12a, by bolts 25 so that each assemblylies transverse the chains.

One or both of the apertures 23, 24, can be made slightly oval, orotherwise suitably formed so as to permit the carriers 19 to pass aroundthe sprocket. Any other suitable arrangement for mounting the jawassemblies on the chains to move therewith can be used.

The main frame 20 of each carrier has two horizontally extending guidepins 26 upon which is mounted in slidable relation the sub-frame 27which carries at its center portion an upstanding yoke 28 pivotedthereto at 29.

Extending outwardly from the main frame 20 is a laterally extendingportion 30 in which is mounted an outwardly projecting rod 31 providedat its outer end with a collar or nut 32 which retains a spring 33 onthe rod, the outer end of the spring resting against the collar or nut32 and the inner end against the upturned extension 34 on the sub-frame27.

A cam arm 35 is bifurcated at its inner end and is pivoted to theextension 30 of the main frame 20 at 36. This arm carries at its outerend a roller 37 for a purpose hereinafter referred to. V

A bifurcated lever 38 is pivotally connected to the cam arm 35 at 39 andthe outer end of this lever is operatively connected to yoke 28 to pushoutwardly on same when 35 is depressed.

The suband main frames 20 and 27 of each carrier have outwardlyprojecting guide members 40 and 41 to guide the book into and betweenthe jaws 42, 43, immediately adjacent these guides, which form anopening 44 between the jaws, which are adapted to grasp a book with itscover thereon. It will be noted that jaw 42 is on the sub-frame 27, andjaw 43 on the main frame 20.

Referring to Figure 4, the drive shaft 18 being in motion, the chains12, 12a, are driven by the sprockets 13, 14, in the direction of thearrow 45; and the chains carry a plurality of the jaw assemblies 19spaced at desirable intervals therealong.

A cam 46 is provided, pivoted at 47 on the framework and provided withan adjusting cam 48, by means of which the camming surface 49 of cam 46may be raised and lowered by turning the shaft 50.

The adjustment of the cam 46 may be accomplished in any suitable manner,and Figure 7 shows the arrangement just described. Here the shaft 50, towhich the link member 43 is attached (carrying pin 51 engaging the cam46) passes through a side frame and on the outside of the frame slidablykeyed to the shaft 50 is a collar 52 having a handle 53, which whenmoved radially moves the shaft 50 and its associated link 48, therebyadjusting the cam 46.

The shaft 50 is provided with a lock nut 54 which may have a handle 55so that when the handle 53 is set at the proper adjustment, the lock nutis screwed up against the assembly locking the shaft 50 in place.

The cam 46 is positioned in connection with the carriers near what maybe called a loading station L, and as the chains travel from left toright over the bottom of the sprockets, the carriers pass under cam 46and the roller 37 on cam arm 35 encounters the cam arm 47 and cam arm 35is depressed thereby. When so depressed the arm 35, being pivoted at 36to the main frame 20 of the carrier, pushes the lever 38 forwardly, andsaid lever pushes against the yoke 28 which carries with it the subframe27 of the carrier pushing same outwardly against the compression spring33 thereby forcing the sub-frame 27 outwardly on the guide pins 26, andthus opening the jaws 42, 43, so that these open jaws assume theposition shown in Figure 6.

The operator now shoves a book with a cover thereon into the open jawsof the carrier into which the book is guided by means of the members 40,41, so that the back of the book fits into the opening 44 between thejaws, where it is tightly held by the spring 33 when the roller 37 isreleased at the point 56 of cam 46.

The opposed edges of the jaws 42, 43, where they grip the bookcover-these edges being shown at 57 and 57a, Figure 6serve, if desired,to make the usual joint in the book cover, forcing the joint inwardly totightly grip the pages of the book.

It will now be noted, that as seen in Figure 4 the book hangs downwardlyin the jaws of the carrier 19 with the pages more or less open, and thebook is thus conveyed through a heated chamber 58 in Figure 4, which maycomprise an oven equipped with any suitable heater, electrical orotherwise, such as the infra-red lamps 59 which may be positioned in anymanner to secure an application of heat up through the partially openpages of the book and toward the back for the purposes of drying thepaste between the book and the cover. It has been found that this dryingcan be accomplished in approximately 45 seconds for the average book,whereas heretofore the books when clamped as shown in Figures 1 and 2require eight hours for drying.

The books, after passing through the. heat zone 58, are conveyed to whatmay be termed an unloading station, at which is located a cam 46-2 withits associated adjustment exactly as described in connection with thecam 46. It will be obvious that when a carrier 19 runs under the cam46-2 that the lever 35 will be depressed and the jaws 42, 43, releasedto permit the removal of the book cover from the jaw assembly.

The carrier 19 then continues up and around the sprockets 15 at theright-hand end of the machine, Figure 4, and is conveyed to the left,and the operation just described repeated, thus permitting the feedingof the books to be bound in a continuous operation.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for book-binding, in combination, a conveyor; aplurality of carriers mounted on said conveyor and movable therewith,each of said carriers including jaw members adapted to grasp a book andits cover and hold said book with the leaves thereof extendingdownwardly from the back of the book and said leaves being open betweenthe covers of said book to permit the ingress of air thereto, meansincluding an arm extending outwardly from said carrier for engaging andopening said jaw members thereof at a predetermined position in the pathof travel of said conveyor to permit the insertion of a book and coverbetween each of said jaws; means carried by each of said carriers toclose said jaws when released by said first means, said means includinga spring extending across each of said carriers and connected to thejaws therein and overlying said conveyor and carrier, and means foragain engaging and opening said jaw members at another predeterminedposition in the path of said conveyor to permit the withdrawal of saidbook and cover from said jaws, said jaws remaining closed and engagingsaid book from the time of its insertion in said jaws until the same arereleased to permit withdrawal of said book therefrom.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 including means located betweensaid first and third means for applying heat to books and covers held insaid carriers while said books are held dependent from said carriers andbelow said conveyor.

3. In an apparatus for book-binding, in combination, a framework,conveyor supports revolvably supported on said framework, a conveyorcarried on said supports, a plurality of carriers carried on saidconveyor, each of said carriers including jaw members adapted to grasp abook and its cover and hold said book with the leaves thereof extendingdownwardly from the back of the book and said leaves being open betweenthe covers of said book to permit ingress of air thereto; means on saidcarriers for normally holding said jaw members together, said meansincluding a spring extending across each of said carriers and connectedto the jaws therein and overlying said conveyor and the carrier, meanssupported on said framework for opening said jaw members against thetension of said spring at a predetermined position in the path of travelof said conveyor chain to permit the insertion of a book and coverbetween said jaws, said last means being adjustable to vary the point atwhich said jaws are opened by said means; a heating oven through whichat least a portion of said conveyor and its associated carriers passwhile said books are held dependent from said carriers and below saidconveyor, means in said oven for applying heat to the covers and theopen leaves of books conveyed therethrough by said conveyor andcarriers, means for releasing said books and covers from said carriersafter they have passed through said oven, and means for adjusting saidreleasing means, said jaws remaining closed and engaging said book fromthe time of its insertion in said jaws until the same are released topermit withdrawal of said book therefrom.

4. In an apparatus for book-binding, in combination, a horizontalconveyor; a plurality of carriers carried on said conveyor, each of saidcarriers including means for suspending a book and its cover with theleaves of the book in a comparatively loose open condition and suspendedbelow said conveyor; an oven through which said books and covers areconveyed by said conveyor while said books are suspended from the backsthereof, a source of heat in said oven for drying glue applied betweenthe cover and the leaves of the book; means for releasing said jaws topermit withdrawing said book therefrom, said jaws remaining closed onsaid book from the time of insertion in said jaws until said jaws arereleased to permit withdrawal of said book therefrom.

5. For use in an apparatus for book-binding, a carrier including a mainframe having upstanding ears at each end thereof whereby the same may bebolted to a conveyor, horizontally extending guide members secured tosaid frame, a sub-frame mounted on said guide members, spring meansextending between said main and subframes tending to draw adjacent sideedges of same together, a cam arm movably supported on said main frame,and means operated by said cam arm for pushing said sub-frame away fromsaid main frame to permit the insertion of a book and cover therebetweenwhereby said book may hang from its back with its leaves extendingdownwardly below said carrier, said jaws remaining closed on said bookfrom the time of its insertion between said jaws until same are releasedto permit withdrawal of said book therefrom.

6. In an apparatus for book-binding, in combination, a framework;conveyor supports comprising sprockets revolvably supported on saidframework; a conveyor carried by said sprockets and extendinghorizontally therebetween; a plurality of carriers on said conveyor,each of said carriers including a main frame extending transverse thewidth of said conveyor and having ears at each end thereof whereby saidframe may be bolted at its ends to said conveyor; horizontally extendingguide members secured to each of said carrier frames and extendingparallel to the path of travel of said conveyor, 21 sub-frame mounted onsaid guide members and extending transverse the width of said conveyor;spring means extending between said main and sub-frames and tending todraw the adjacent side edges'of same together each of said spring meansbeing carried entirely upon its associated carriers; and means on saidmain frame adjacent the path of travel of said conveyor adapted tosegmentally engage said sub-frames and push same away from theirassociated main frames to permit the insertion of a book and covertherebetween whereby said book is then transported via said conveyorhanging freely below same; with the leaves of the book in acomparatively loose condition to permit air to contact the same.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,380,265 Story May 31, 1921 1,380,294 Gitzendanner May 31, 19212,151,957 Davis Mar. 28, 1939 2,151,991 Schramm Mar. 28, 1939 2,253,333Jaechel Aug. 19, 1941 2,508,585 Stone May 23, 1950 2,635,262 SchrammApr. 21, 1953 2,636,195 Hicks et al. Apr. 28, 1953 2,640,208 Florez etal. June 2, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 655,463 Great Britain July 25, 1951

